Get Away with Dre: Swimming with whales
On the 20th November 1820, the whaling ship the Essex was ironically rammed by a ‘vengeful’ sperm whale which later brought the ship down and sank it. The entire crew of 20 survived, however only 8 actually made it out alive and were rescued after a crazy survival story.
The sinking of the Essex inspired the climactic scene in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.
With whaling now nearly abolished (we still have much to work on) and marine conservation on the rise, we don’t have to worry about vengeful whales ramming into our boats, so here are some places where you can dive and swim with whales.
Disclaimer: It’s important to note that you are venturing into the ocean. It’s big, dangerous, wild and beautiful. Know that before you go. You must also be competent and comfortable swimming on your own. There is also no guarantee you’ll see a whale – it’s not a forced experience. When you’re lucky enough to be in the water, look around you not just in front. It’s not like a watching a movie – it’s IRL.
Jervis Bay, NSW
You don’t have to travel too far to swim with whales. Sydney to the South Coast is just 2 and half hours.
Sadly, Jervis Bay has a bleak past involving whaling and the exploitation of it’s marine life and resources, but luckily that’s in the past because Jervis Bay Marine Park is now a protected conservational marine park.
Humpback whales migrate north to their winter breeding grounds off Queensland in June/July. They return south to feed in the cold Antarctic waters from September – November, so along the way they rest in Jervis Bay’s calm water with their young.
You’ll also find the endangered Southern Right whales which shelter during their northward migration, the minke whale, fin whale, the sei whale and on one occasion, a blue whale.
You’ll also find travelling orcas and killer whales have been spotted in the bay and further offshore. It’s known that 60 Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins call Jervis Bay home and you can spot them from shore, travelling in small groups, feeding and socialising.
There are several 5-6 hour whale swim expeditions available in Jervis Bay where you can bring your own equipment, or hire if you want to travel light.
Not to worry if you don’t see any whales, Jervis Bay is also a popular diving and snorkelling hot spot with charter operators supporting approximately 10,000 dives in the park each year across over 30 dives sites in and around the bay.
Editorial credit: Paul Harding 00
Queensland
If you’re looking for whales, look no further than Hervey Bay in Queensland. Hervey Bay is the first ever World Whale Heritage Site, a recognition award for the region’s commitment to conservation and protection.
The Whale Festival is celebrated in Hervey Bay where hundreds of locals float into the bay on surfboards, kayaks and SUPs to raise awareness for whale welfare and the conservation of the marine environment
From July to October the migration of humpback whales occur so you’ll see them get playful and nurture their young calves. You can get up close by getting wet and snorkelling with them, or stay dry-ish on the boat on a whale watching boat tour.
Tonga
In the past few years, Tonga has been an increasingly popular destination for swimming with humpback whales.
Tonga consists of 170 islands. Only 36 are inhabited, the rest are untouched, with a total sea area of 700,000km2. It’s located near the Pacific Ring of Fire, with water depths at around 11,000m – it’s one of the deepest places in the world.
The best time to go is at the end of August to early October. The Ha’apai area and islands of Vava’u is a place near where the whales breed or nurse. The humpback whales that go there are from a specific population, and this population of humpbacks come annually and stay for months on end.
Tonga has several multi-day or day trips available to these areas. They usually have a professional onboard to assess whether it’s safe to get in the water during these times without disturbing them. A max of 4 people plus the guide can be in the water at a time.
If you don’t spot of whale the area is known for professional kite surfing, so you’ll be no short of kite surfing spots. Tonga is also a paradise for paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkelling.
